Drug Checking Alert - updated:
Kyle Besaw, VCH Drug Checking Technician just announced a drug alert from his shift at Overdose Prevention Society this morning.
The Drug checking participant had brought in a sample post-OD to get tested. The sample was a Light Green Down – Tested positive with the Benzo strip and symptoms described lead Kyle to believe that the sample is contaminated with a benzodiazepine.
Other folks in the community have disclosed witnessing or experiencing adverse reactions with the same color of “down” over the past 48 hours.
Here is a picture for your reference.
Drug Checking Presentation from Susan Wright – (VCH Clinical Nurse Specialist – Regional Addiction Program) presented on a drug checking project which she undertook as part of the BCCSU Addiction Nursing Fellowship, which was also presented at the BCCSU ‘Coming Together’ Conference. Please see the attached slides/slides uploaded on the Drug Checking Blog at https://www.overdosecommunity.ca/drug-checking
Ongoing updates:
Drug Checking Pilot - VCH drug checking pilot at OPS sites is continuing this week and concludes on July 5th.
BCCSU Drug Checking schedule updates – temporary:
There will be reduced BCCSU drug checking shifts until further notice (approx. mid - June)
The following shifts will not be taking place:
Monday – Insite – 1-5
Tuesday - Safepoint - 12 -4 (Abbotsford)
Thursday – Molson OPS – 1-5
Friday – St. Paul’s Hospital – 1-4
For the above shifts where drug technicians are currently not around to check drugs using the spectrometer, peers will still be offering drug checking services with test strips at the above sites.
BCCSU Shifts still taking place are:
Tuesday – Molson OPS – 1-5
Wednesday – Insite – 3-7
Thursday – Safepoint – 10.30-5 (Abbotsford)
VCH Drug checking shifts continue to take place at:
Wednesday – Overdose Prevention Society – 9–12 & St. Paul’s Hospital – 1-4
Thursday – Overdose Prevention Society – 9-12
Friday – Insite – 1-5